The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-02
ERSKINg COLLEGE.
The Sixth intermediate Celebration Of
the Philemathsaa Literary Society.
EVIDENCES OF THE MERIT IN OLD ABBE-
vILLE's INSTITUTION OF LEARNING.
Speeches, Thought and Language. of
Students which Would Reflect
Credit on any College In the Unit
cd States,


Getting into one of Messrs. A. NJ. Hill &
Sons good buggies last Friday afternoon, Jol-
ly soon carried us to Due West
Arriving in town before night we called ut
the office of the AssoeiGte Reformed presoye; n
exchanges. The typograehers we're busy with
the types, while Mr.. Bonner was settling up a
new engine which is to run their CnmphelI
press. The office has grown much since we
first knew II. Thirty-hve years ago, the office
had only small fonts of small plea, long prim-
er, BREWER, and an Old secondhand smith
hand press. on which was printed about nVc
hundred copies of q siX-coumn paper called
the Ersktne biScelnny. Now, the establish
ment has improved presses, paper cutters Ia
cilities for all sorts of job work, and the rooms
are full of all kinds of printing material Or
the old office. q small imposing stone only re-
InainS. That stone was originally intended 10
mark the resting place of departed citizen
who had gone to his reward perhaps fifty
years ago His friends falling TO call at the
marble yard with the requisite amount OF
cash, the reverse side from the inscription
was dressed and sold to Mr.. Samuel Jordan OF
this county. somewhere in the f0rtics, and
was by him used in the printing Of his book,
"rhe Ensiga Of Liberty, or the Wicked one
sDId To DR. J. O. Lindsay and DR.. ]. l. Bonner.
The press, the types and ali else of the Office
of that day. save this stone, mas disappeared
II now stands conspicuous among nall dozen
q her ins posing stones. and the sight Of which
carried our thoughts back to the days OF our
boyhood Except Rev. ]. y. Young, Rev. J.
y. Lindsay. D. D., Dr. J. L. Miller, and Mr.. J.
y Sitton all OF those men who were in Due
West in 1851 have crossed the River and are at
rcS- II is true that some OF the boys oil that
Gay are there yet but we are speaking OF the
discharge Of the active duties of useful citi-
2enShlp.
Taking leave of the Prcsbyterian office we
spent the time very pleasantly among Nar-
onS other friends until the appointed hour
for the assembling Of people to witness the
exercises Of the Sixth intermediate Celebri-
ton of the Philomathean Literary Society.
which took plce In their SpenI,nI Is hat az ,h,s 'S
building hang the pictures Of DR.. q. E. Press
ly, DR.. Z. c. Grier, and DR.: E. l. Patton, each
OF wfun hat been President or the College
DIR. E. F. Prcssly was the friend who seemed
anxious to enable the writer hereof In 1859 IT,
buy an Interest In the paper which he s,,ii
prints He With others, signed the note
which settied the editor OF the Press and Ban
ner at AbbeviIle. The remembrance of the
cheerfulness and the gladnesS with which ne
helped young man, without money ana
source OF much pleasure through all the IN
tcrvening years, and has inspired him with
some ambition 10 prove worthy OF ne c3nti-
dence and trust which was imposed In him
then. But enoush OF this.
Before the time appointed for the beGin-
ming Of the exercises. the hall was we'll filled.
chiefly by the good people Of Due West.
Among the distinguished guests were, the
Presidents, professors, teachers and students
of both the male and female colleges.
Or. Edwards and a corps OF musicians fur
nislaed excellent music during the evening.
The Presidents Speech of Welcome.
The President OF the Society, Mr.. ]. X.
Hood. called the meeting to order, and pre-
sided with the grace and dignity OF a Roman
Senator. Calling the meeting to order Presi-
dent Hood said:
Lrdies and Gentlemen:
1t Is needless for ME to tell YOU that your
presence here this evening affords us, the
members OF the Phiomathean Society, no
small degree Of pleasure and eneouragement.
of ~hal has freqocntiy been said on preriou
occasions OF this character. But. in the Ian
t,iaGe Of another. who was more capable Of
expressing the emotions that arose on some
thin. Of similar occasion, than are we, TO
your welcome we add, that "a II our service
in every point twice done. and then done dou-
iae, were poor and single business To contend
against the honor, broad and deep, wkerewith
ya1 load our hall this evening. You have
ever honored US in times past with your pres
ence, and we trust you have not had reasons
for considering the time spent with us during
these exercises As "tale that Is told' and
gone forever.
AS the programme indicates, the exercises
will consist of declamations and debates.
With the addition OF an essay this has been
the programme followed In preceding years.
However, knowing that "brevity Is the soul
OF wit" 1t was thought best to dispense with
this, lest the exercises should become tedious.
We are sorry, indeed, to state hat Mr.. j. +.
Calhoun, who is confined to a bed OF sickness,
j. unable To fulfill his part of the programme.
Many Of you, who had the pleasure OF hear
Ing him year ago, can sympathize with us
I'm our misfortune
and teliow-Student. Mr.. J. $. Sibley, of Au.
GuSta, Georgia, who has been chosen "SeniOr
Orator" for this occasion. He will now al
dress you: